INTRODUCTION:
This report covers a two week stay in Jamaica between 21st September and 5th October 2013. Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean and the range of habitats creates many opportunities to find West Indian bird species along with several species endemic to Jamaica. The literature I used consisted of:
Haynes-Sutton A et al (2009) A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Jamaica. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
Flieg G M and Sander A (2006) A Photographic Guide to Birds of Jamaica and the West Indies. New Holland Publishers (UK), London.
The terrain in the central part of the island is mountainous culminating in the Blue Mountain Peak (2256m). The extensive coastal mangroves, wetlands and rainforest create valued ecosystems but although parts of the upland interior remain relatively undisturbed many of the island’s habitats have been impacted significantly by human activities. When Christopher Columbus encountered Jamaica for the first time in 1494 he stated that it was densely covered in hardwood forest. However, Jamaica has lost about 75% of its original forest cover over the past two centuries due to agriculture and the cultivation of marijuana, logging and bauxite mining. The actual rate has been disputed by authorities but the UN have estimated that between 1989 and 1998 this loss was as high as 6.7% per annum, among the highest of any country in the world.
Jamaica hosts about 3,500 plant species of which more than 900 are endemic. The national tree is the Blue Mahoe. Native tree species include Rosewood, Palmetto, Mahogany, Cedar and Ebony with the last two having been seriously impacted on by logging. There is only one native mammal species, the Jamaican Coney. Small numbers of wild hogs and feral goats roam the wilderness areas and the introduced Mongoose has become a serious pest. Insect species include the mosquito (the presence of which I can testify to) and about 120 butterfly species of which 21 are endemic. Coral reefs along the northern and western shores form an important part of the country’s marine ecosystem and support about 700 species of fish, marine turtles and a small population of the West Indian Manatee. The avifauna of Jamaica consists of 324 species and depending upon the taxonomic system adopted, around 28 of these species are endemic, more than any of the world’s other oceanic islands.
NEGRIL:
After arriving at the airport at Montego Bay we were transported to our hotel in the holiday resort of Negril about 80km southwest of the airport. The objective was to make this a combined family and relaxed birding holiday, a kind of twitch and tan with several days of more intensive birding to find as many of the Jamaican endemic species as possible. Because I did not have a car the endemics I found were primarily in coastal and wetland/swamp forest habitats. Most of my birding was done in the vicinity of our hotel and in Negril town and with the use of the local taxi service (which was very reliable and could be accessed easily from the hotel) I was able to visit the Negril Royal Palm Reserve. Using coach trips we visited the very scenic Dunn’s River Falls and Bob Marley’s birthplace. Who could visit Jamaica without a visit to the birthplace of the King of reggae. However, these trips did not add many new species to my list. A list of important birding locations in Jamaica (the Cockpit Country contains 27 of Jamaica’s endemic species) can be found in the literature.
The hotel was located on its own stretch of the beautiful Seven Mile Beach which actually comprises Long Beach and Bloody Bay. The weather was hot (25-32C) and humid with fairly predictable thunderstorms around lunchtime. The morning was therefore the more comfortable and productive period for birding. Our visit to Jamaica coincided with the rainier months of September and October. The thunderstorms, some of which by UK standards were pretty spectacular, were therefore more frequent than might be the case at other times of the year. Jamaica is a fairly ‘laid back’ country (compared to the UK) with generally friendly and helpful local people.
NEGRIL’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPORTANCE:
Negril is located within the Negril Environmental Protected Area which spans parts of the parishes of Westmoreland and Hanover. This EPA includes the unique ecosystems of the Negril Great Morass, the Fish River and Negril Hills. The Negril and Black River Morass represent 75% of all Jamaica’s wetlands. They effectively act as a giant sponge filtering the waters that flow down to the ocean from the hills east of Negril. These wetlands have been described as one of the largest integrated wetland system in the Caribbean. The eastern limit of the Negril EPA consists of the Fish River Hills with the western limit comprising Bloody Beach and Long Beach and the Caribbean Sea.
The Negril Marine Park is one of two designated marine parks in Jamaica. The Park was established to protect the offshore marine resources, the coral reefs, the shoreline, the mangroves (crucially important as a habitat for breeding birds and for coastal preservation) and to reduce coastal erosion. The Park is well worth exploring for anyone interested in marine species and habitats.
The Park is managed by the Negril Coral Reef Preservation Society whose main objectives are to create a productive marine environment and enable the observation and study of marine aquatic species. However, parts of the Negril beach and the coral reef face serious erosion and damage due to rising sea-levels, pollution, the removal of the Seagrass meadows, the effects of storm surges and coastal development. A proposal to mitigate the erosion by constructing two offshore breakwaters has created considerable controversy. The draining of parts of the Great Morass has also resulted in the eutrophication of coastal waters. Nevertheless, the Park’s habitat remains a prime location for shoreline and sea birds. Our hotel with its mature trees and shrubs, proved to be good for observing the commoner local species and because of the resort’s westerly location, provided an excellent opportunity to observe American migrant birds at (often very) close range, species that occur only as rarities in the UK.
ROYAL PALM RESERVE:
The Negril Royal Palm Reserve which I visited on two occasions is located within the southern section of the Negril Great Morass. The entrance is located about 4 km from Negril town centre along the road between Negril and Savanna-la Mar. Most of the southern boundary of the reserve follows the South Negril River and covers approximately 121 ha. This comprises 89 ha of forested peat lands with most of the remainder being open bog or marsh (Bird Life International). Three distinct swamp forest areas are present, the Royal Palm Forest, Buttonwood Forest and Bull Thatch Forest although sadly logging has impacted on the area. Another way to explore the Great Morass is to take one of the small boats based just outside Negril village which carry visitors along the South Negril River.
The reserve contains an important remnant of the endemic Swamp Cabbage Palm (Roystonea princeps), an endemic palm (Grias caulifera) which is restricted to wetland habitats in western Jamaica and hosts 114 species of plant, many of which are typical of the Jamaican wetland ecosystems. A reserve Resource Management and Development Strategy was prepared by the Jamaican Natural Resources Conservation Authority in 1998. This was primarily aimed at pursuing a programme of natural resource management and enhancement and the management of water levels. Surveys of the birdlife within the Royal Palm Reserve and surrounding area estimated a total of 52 species comprising 10 Jamaican endemic species, 13 winter migrants, 3 summer migrants and 26 residents, including the threatened West Indian Whistling-duck (Natural Resources Conservation Authority 1987 and 2007).
The reserve was officially closed when I visited (2013) but I was nevertheless able to gain access and I was the only visitor there at the time. More recent visitors (June 2014) have reported that the reserve is still officially closed but that access is still possible. The access road was partially flooded during my visits making vehicle access tricky in places although this may not be the case outside the wetter months. There is a 1.6 km long boardwalk through the reserve’s forest and swamp and a tall tower hide giving excellent views over the rainforest, Fish River and Springfield Hills. The very helpful reserve warden/caretaker with his knowledge of the reserve’s birdlife guided me to the location of some of the more important species. An example was the sighting of a Jamaican Potoo which I would probably not have found unaided because of its uncanny ability to resemble part of its roosting tree. From a birders perspective my visits were both fruitful and enjoyable.
The potential of this beautiful reserve as a visitor attraction and educational centre has been recognised by the Jamaican Government but not yet been fulfilled. Investment in the facilities and a wider recognition of its ecological importance may rectify this and further increase its status as a birding experience. Negril is a location that is well worth an extended visit.
The species seen on my visit are listed below. The list identifies the species that are endemic to Jamaica (E) and the species that are currently accorded Jamaican endemic sub-species status (ESSp). Some of the latter may well in the future become re-classified as full endemic species.
Least Grebe Single at Royal Palm reserve
Pied-billed Grebe Single at water treatment works near Montego Bay
Brown Pelican Up to 4 seen fishing daily along the shoreline near the hotel
Double-crested Cormorant 1 seen at Montego Bay Harbour - a relatively rare visitor to Jamaica
Magnificent Frigatebird Seen daily in coastal areas around Negril
Great Blue Heron Single at Royal Palm Reserve
Snowy Egret Single at Royal Palm Reserve
Cattle Egret Common around the hotel and environs
Tricoloured Heron 1 at Royal Palm Reserve
Little Blue Heron 1 at Royal Palm Reserve
Great Egret 1 near Montego Bay and Royal Palm Reserve
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 at the Royal Palm Reserve
Yellow-crowned Night Heron 1 confiding bird along the shore near the hotel and 1 at Montego Bay
Green Heron 1 at Royal Palm reserve
Least Bittern 1 seen in the mangroves near Negril
West Indian Whistling Duck The reserve is one of the most important sites for this species and several were seen around pond at the entrance to the Royal Palm Reserve. A Bird Life International Project has stabilised the population and enables these otherwise elusive birds to be more easily observed
Ruddy Duck 2 on ponds near the hotel
Turkey Vulture Seen daily in coastal and inland habitats around Negril singly or in groups – maximum of 25 at Drums Falls
Red-tailed Hawk (ESSp) Singles seen around Negril and at the Royal Palm Reserve
American Kestrel Several seen in Negril area, Royal Palm Reserve and Montego Bay
Common Moorhen Several at the pond at the entrance to the Royal Palm Reserve
American Coot Single at Royal Palm Reserve
Limpkin 1 seen at the Royal Palm Reserve
Kildeer 1 beside the flooded access road to the Royal Palm Reserve
Northern Jacana Several seen at the Royal Palm Reserve
Willet 1 flying along the shore near the hotel
Spotted Sandpiper 1-2 seen daily along the beach at the hotel and a single near flooded entrance to Royal Palm Reserve
Ruddy Turnstone Up to 8 along the shoreline near the hotel
Laughing Gull 1 juvenile along shoreline at the hotel
Royal Tern Seen daily along the coast near the hotel
Rock Dove Several near Negril
Mourning Dove 1 near entrance to Royal Palm Reserve
Zanaida Dove Several within the Royal Palm Reserve
White-crowned Dove Singles at the Royal Palm Reserve and the hotel grounds
White-winged Dove (ESSp)Seen daily in the hotel grounds and the adjacent rural area
Common Ground-Dove (ESSp) 2 in the hotel grounds
Caribbean Dove (ESSp) 1 near entrance road to Royal Palm Reserve
Jamaican (Olive-throated Parakeet) (E) Several seen in grounds of the hotel and the Royal Palm Reserve
Mangrove Cuckoo (ESSp) 1 in the Royal Palm Reserve
Smooth-billed Ani Several seen around Negril and the access road to the Royal Palm Reserve
Northern (Jamaican) Potoo (ESSp)1 roosting in a tree above the boardwalk at the Royal Palm Reserve.
Black Swift Seen around the hotel (max. 20) and in Negril town centre
White-collared Swift 1 with Black Swifts around the hotel
Antillean Palm Swift Common around the coast and adjacent rural area
Jamaican Mango Hummingbird (E) Several seen around the Royal Palm Reserve
Red-billed Streamertail (E) Several near Montego Bay and Drums Falls
Vervain Hummingbird (ESSp) 1 in the hotel grounds and several at Royal Palm Reserve
Belted Kingfisher 1 near Montego Bay
Jamaican Tody (E) 1 in the Royal Palm Reserve
Jamaican Woodpecker (E) Several seen around Negril and Royal Palm Reserve
Sad Flycatcher (E) 1 seen in the Royal Palm Reserve
Stolid Flycatcher (ESSp) Singles in the Royal Palm Reserve
Caribbean Martin Common around the hotel and nearby rural area, maximum - flock of 50
Barn Swallow Small flocks around the hotel and near Montego Bay
White-chinned Thrush (E) 1 seen from access road to Royal Palm Reserve
Jamaica Crow (E) Several over farmland near Montego Bay
Northern Mockingbird Common around the hotel vicinity
European Starling Small flock near Royal Palm Reserve
Jamaican Vireo (E) 1 seen from access road to Royal Palm Reserve
Northern Parula 1 in the Royal Palm Reserve
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 seen in the hotel grounds
Yellow-throated Warbler 1 in the hotel grounds and 1 in the Royal Palm Reserve
Prairie Warbler Common around the hotel and Royal Palm Reserve
Palm Warbler Several individuals in the hotel grounds
Black-and-white Warbler Seen daily in the hotel grounds
American Redstart Individual males and females in the Royal Palm Reserve and Negril
Ovenbird Seen daily around the hotel and also in the Royal Palm Reserve
Northern Waterthrush Seen daily in the hotel grounds and the Royal Palm Reserve
Louisiana Waterthrush 1seen in the Royal Palm Reserve
Common Yellowthroat Several in the hotel grounds and at Royal Palm Reserve
Grey Kingbird Present around the hotel and the Royal Palm Reserve
Loggerhead Kingbird (ESSp) Present around the hotel and adjacent rural area, the Royal Palm Reserve and Montego Bay
Bannanaquit (ESSp) Very common around the hotel and Royal Palm Reserve
Black-faced Grassquit 1 in the hotel Grounds
Yellow-faced Grassquit Several in the Royal Palm Reserve
Shiny Cowbird Several in farmland near Montego Bay
Greater Antillean Grackle (ESSp) Common around Negril and around and in the hotel – bold enough to visit and dine in the restaurants!
Jamaican Oriole (ESSp) Several seen in the vicinity of the hotel and the Royal Palm Reserve
Baltimore Oriole 1 at Royal Palm Reserve
Jamaican Euphoni (E) 1 in the Royal Palm Reserve
In addition to the species listed above surveys carried out by Bird Life International within the Negril Environmental Protected Area (2002) and Environmental Impact Assessments carried out in two areas to the south and east of Negril (2004 and 2007) identified the following endemic species and endemic sub-species:
Jamaican Elaenia (E)
Jamaican Pewee (E)
Rufous-tailed Flycatcher (E)
Jamaican Bacard (E)
Arrowhead Warbler (E)
Yellow-shouldered Grassquit (E)
Greater-Antillean Bullfinch (ESSp)